Character strengths represent the best in us. Research shows that we all have 24 character strengths, with different degrees of prominence. Put together, this means we each have a unique character profile. Knowing and using our character strengths helps manage stress, improve relationships, and build a stronger community. In times of adversity such as now, the world requires “the all” that is in all of us. Join us as Dr. Ryan Niemiec, education director of the nonprofit Via Institute on Character, discusses how to ignite our character strengths in order to optimize resilience and make a contribution when and where it is most needed.
Ryan M. Niemiec PsyD
Ryan M. Niemiec PsyD, education director of the VIA Institute on Character, develops VIA’s courses, reports, and programs, and helps professionals around the world apply character strengths personally and professionally. He is the author of Mindfulness and Character Strengths: A Practical Guide to Flourishing (with 10-track CD) and co-author of Positive Psychology at the Movies and Movies and Mental Illness. Ryan is an award-winning psychologist, certified health coach, international workshop leader, and faculty member for Xavier University in Cincinnati and the University of Pennsylvania. He is the creator of Mindfulness-Based Strengths Practice (MBSP), the first structured program for building character strengths, and an adapted MBSP for a track on the web/app-based platform Happify, called “Awaken Your Potential.”
